Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c11.22

c11.22

**Jail Code.** The city had its Jail under its Superintendent called *Bandhanāgārādhyaksha* [IV. 9]. The Jail Code was quite strict and fair. The Jail proper is called *Bandhanāgāra* attached to the court of the *Pradeshṭā* and is distinct from the lock-up called *Chāraka* attached to the Court of the *Dharmasthīya*. An officer letting off an accused from the lock-up under a bribe (*nissārayataḥ lañchagrahaṇena*) is to be severly punished. Again, one who releases from a *Chāraka* a man against whom an action has been brought (*abhiyukta*) will be fined and made to pay the amount of the claim against him (*abhiyogadānam*). An officer (prematurely and improperly) releasing a convict from the Jail will forfeit his whole property (*sarvasvaṁ*) and may even suffer the extreme penalty (*vadhaḥ*).